Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 75.5	$ 67.2	$ 44.9
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	127.7	134.6	155.8
Timberland gains	0.0	(24.3)	(17.1)
Non-cash asset impairment charges	51.4	45.9	85.8
Gain on disposals of properties, plants and equipment, net	(10.3)	(7.0)	(8.3)
(Gain)/Loss on disposals of businesses, net	14.5	9.2	(11.5)
Unrealized foreign exchange (gain) loss	4.1	0.0	(3.9)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	1.5	(5.9)	14.1
Gain from Venezuela monetary assets and liabilities remeasurement	0.0	(4.9)	0.0
Loss for Venezuela non-monetary assets to net realizable value	0.0	9.3	0.0
Other, net	0.0	(2.2)	(2.8)
Increase (decrease) in cash from changes in certain assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts receivable	(18.6)	39.5	(45.3)
Inventories	3.4	38.9	(28.7)
Deferred purchase price on sold receivables	5.2	(5.7)	11.5
Accounts payable	39.4	(56.6)	68.9
Restructuring reserves	(10.7)	18.8	1.3
Pension and postretirement benefit liabilities	(8.9)	(4.0)	(16.9)
Other, net	26.8	(46.5)	14.0
Net cash provided by operating activities	301.0	206.3	261.8
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of companies, net of cash acquired	(0.4)	(1.6)	(53.5)
Collection (Issuance) of subordinated note receivable	44.2	(44.2)	0.0
Purchases of properties, plants and equipment	(100.1)	(135.8)	(137.9)
Purchases of and investments in timber properties	(7.1)	(38.4)	(56.8)
Purchases of properties, plants and equipment with insurance proceeds	(4.4)	0.0	0.0
Proceeds from the sale of properties, plants, equipment and other assets	12.3	49.3	49.6
Proceeds from the sale of businesses	23.8	19.6	115.3
Proceeds on insurance recoveries	6.6	4.6	0.0
Payments on notes receivable with related party, net	0.0	0.0	14.3
Net cash used in investing activities	(25.1)	(146.5)	(69.0)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	1,102.3	912.3	1,120.0
Payments on long-term debt	(1,119.2)	(870.1)	(1,186.5)
Proceeds from short-term borrowings, net	4.7	2.6	8.2
Proceeds from trade accounts receivable credit facility	283.5	123.0	67.0
Payments on trade accounts receivable credit facility	(431.1)	(85.4)	(97.0)
Dividends paid to Greif, Inc. shareholders	(98.7)	(98.7)	(98.6)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	(4.9)	(4.0)	0.0
Cash paid for deferred purchase price related to acquisitions	0.0	0.0	(1.2)
Proceeds from the sale of membership units of a consolidated subsidiary	0.3	0.0	6.0
Exercise of stock options	0.0	0.2	1.6
Acquisitions of treasury stock	(5.2)	0.0	0.0
Purchases of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(6.0)	0.0	0.0
Cash contribution from noncontrolling interest holder	1.5	0.0	0.0
Net cash used in financing activities	(272.8)	(20.1)	(180.5)
Effects of exchange rates on cash	(5.6)	(18.6)	(5.3)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(2.5)	21.1	7.0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	106.2	85.1	78.1
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 103.7	$ 106.2	$ 85.1